Improvement in whiffle-tree couplers



F. B. MORSE.

Patented July 30, 1867.

ELL-9' WWavfag; $3M

'i 'fs'rsfls. PHDTO-UTNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. u c.

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IMPROVEMENT IN WHETLE-TREE COUPLBRS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MA'Y'CONCERN:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS B. MORSE, of the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Whifile-Tree Couplers for Carriages; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction, character, and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, in which- 'Figure 1 is aifront view of a centralportion of the whiflie-tree and cross-bar, showing an outside view ofthe coupler.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, cut vertically through the centre,showing the relative positions of the several parts of the coupler, Ste. C

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper or inner part of the coupler, or the part to be attached to the whifiie-tree, showing the projection or safety-hook which secures the parts together when in use, the cavity, 850. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower or outer part of the coupler, or the part to be attached to the cross-bar, showing the channel through which the safety-hook passes, and the recess in which it works.

. Figure is a perspective view of a piece of India-rubber tubing, suitable for an elastic prsser.

My improvement consists in making the coupler of two cylindrical parts, one working within the other, and secured together by a safety-hook or projection on the inner part, which hook works in a recess and under a shoulder in the outer part, so that when the shafts are attached to the carriage, the whiflle-tree cannot be uncoupled from the cross-bar, even if the main bolt is broken; and in fitting an elastic presser on the upper portion of the main bolt, and within a recess or cavity in the upper part of the coupler, so that by means of the nut on the lower end of the bolt, I can entirely obviate rattling: I make the upper or inner part of the coupler of malleable cast iron. or any other suitable material, substantially in the form shown in fig. 3, with suitable projections or lugs a and b for attaching it to the under side of the whiflie-tree A, as shown in figs. 1, 2, and and with a vertical hole'through it'toreceive the main bolt, as shown at c, fig. 2; and I countersink a space or cavity, as shown at d, fig. 3, and in section at d, fig. 2, suitable to receive and contain a piece of India-rubber tubing, as fig. 5, and as shown in section at d, fig. 2; and also a suitable countersink to receive the head of the main bolt 0, as shown at e, figs. 2 and 3; and a notch or channel to receive a projection or lip on the head of the bolt, as shown at g, figs. 2 and 3, to prevent the bolt from turning. Near the lower margin, on the outside of this part, fig. 3, I make a projection-or knob, as shown at h, which I pass down through the channel 1', fig. 4, where it works in the recess 10 under the shoulder Z l, figs. 2 and 4, and serves as a safety-hook to hold the two parts, figs. 3 and 4, together, when in use. I make the-lower or outer part of malleable cast iron, or any other suitable material, substantially in the form shpwn in fig. 4, with two projections or lugs, as m and m, by which I- attach it to the cross-bar B, as shown in' figs. I, 2, and 3. I make a channel, as i, on one side of this part, fig. 4, to receive the projection h on fig. 3, and I countersink a recess, is, figs. 4 and 2, (from the lower 0nd,) in which the projection or knob h, fig. 3, revolves or works as a safety-hook, to hold the two parts together when used.

I make the main screw-bolt of wrought iron, or any other suitable material, substantially in the form shown at e, fig. 2, with a suitable lip or spline, as at g, to keep it from turning, and a head of suitable shape to act upol the upper end of the presser d, and, when necessary, on the upper. portion of part, fig. 3, all as shown in fig. 2 I make the elastic presser of a piece of India-rubber tubing, as shown in fig. 5, or of any other suitablematerial, to fit the cavity or space shown atd, fig. 3, and the presser shown in section in the cavity at d, fig. 2. I attach the lower part, fig. 4, of the coupler to the upper side of the crossbar B of the shafts by means of screw-bolts n and n, as shown in section in fig 2, having an iron plate under the crossbar B, as shown at o o,figs. 1 and 2, to steady the nuts. I place the elastic presser, fig. 5, in the cavity, or space d, fig. 3, and'pass the main bolt 0 through it, all as shown in section in fig. 2; and I secure this part, fig. 3, to "the lower side of the whifile-tree A by screw-bolts p10, as shown in section in fig. 2. When the shafts are not connected with the carriage, I couple the whifl'le-tree by passing the main bolt 0 down through the cross-bar B, and the projecting lip or safety-hook h down through the channel-way i, .fig. 4, as indicated in fig. 2, and revolve the whiific-tree A onehalf of a circle,-s0 that the safety-hook h, fig. 3, will beI-in'the space It on the side opposite to the channel i, fig.

4, when the two parts cannot be separated when the shafts are attached to the carriage, even if the main belt a should be broken; But the whiflle-tree can be detached by taking out the two screw-bolts p and p, fig. 2, leaving the parts, figs. 3 and 4, coupled. I then turn the nut g, on to the lower end of the main bolt 0 sufliciently to cause the requisite strain on the elastic presser, as at d, fig. 2, to prevent rattling, when the whole will appear as in fig. 1, and be ready for use.

When I wish to uncouple the whiflle-tree, I detach the shafts from the carriage, turn oil the nut q, revolve the whifide-tree half round, so that the safety-hook it will correspond with the channel 2' in fig. 4, when the whiflletree, with the part, fig. 3, of the coupler, and the bolt 0, maybe easily lifted off.

This coupler is equally applicable for coupling an evener or double whiflle-tree to a carriage-pole, except that the channel 2', fig. 4, should be cut in the direction of one of the ears or lugs, m m, as indicated by dots at z", fig. 4, instead of being at right angles to the lugs, as shown at fig. 4; and the single whifile-trees may be attached to each end of the evener in the same manner as described for the crossbar. If deemed best, a small space maybe bored out in the under side of the whifiie-tree A, to receive the head of the bolt 0, asindicated by dots in fig. 2, and the head of the bolt 0 may be shaped like those of and 10, fig. 2, or any other convenient shape to act on the presser d, and, when necessary, on the countersink e, figs. 2 and 3. And the elastic presser may be cased with raw hide, or any other suitable substance, if thought best.

The advantages of my improvement consist in that the elastic presser is not subject to'any wear, as'the bolt and cavity turn with itg" and in that the presser is neverexposed to either injury, dust, or moisture; and in that the safetyhook will absolutely prevent uncoupling, even if the main bolt should break; and in that the coupler can be made as compact and symmetrical as ifno presser or safety-hook were used, as, when in use,

nothing appears to indicate either the anti-rattling or safety principle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- I claim the combination of the elastic presser with the recess d and the screw-bolt c, when the whole is constructed, combined, and fitted for use substantially as herein described.

F B-QMORSE.

Witn esses R. FITZGERALD, H. KEATING. 

